Fires prompt call for fire service

THE West Sepik towns of Vanimo and Aitape need fire brigades, says provincial police commander Moses Ibsagi. He spoke to the The National after both towns had shop fires on Tuesday and Saturday. Ibsagi said on Tuesday, TST and Christian Bookshop in Aitape burnt to ashes because there were no fire services and people could not do much to save the buildings. “On Saturday, a very big fire started from the ex-Garamut Supermarket now Lucky Land Trading,” he said. Ibsagi said police, with the assistance of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel and the crowd, managed to contain the fire. “Also with the support ofVanimo Forest Products water cart and the people in Vanimo, we were able to stop the fire from spreading to the Bank South Pacific branch in town,” he said. “These people braved the heat from the fire, and without any firefighting equipment, did everything to save the bank.” He said there were no casualties. He commended everyone for their assistance. He said that like in the Aitape fire, the fire in Vanimo may also have been caused by an electrical fault. Meanwhile, PNG Fire Service chief fire officer Bill Roo said they would be looking at extending fire services to West Sepik but that would require cooperation from the district and provincial governments.